In 2004, Victor Lamar Simmons was convicted of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, second degree cruelty to children, and related offenses for his role in the shooting death of Miller Jean and aggravated assault of Ritchie Buck.1 Simmons appeals, arguing that he received ineffective assistance of counsel and that the trial court improperly excluded relevant evidence. Finding no merit to these contentions, we affirm the convictions.
1. The evidence presented at trial showed that during the evening of June 9, 2003, Simmons approached his neighbor, Miller Jean, who was walking from his car towards his Cartersville home with his daughter. Simmons pulled out a gun and shot Mr. Jean four times. Simmons got in his car, stopped briefly at his home, and then drove slowly past the victim’s body before leaving the area. Mr. Jean died before paramedics arrived. A neighbor removed the victim’s distraught daughter from the scene. It was later learned that Simmons and the victim had argued in the days preceding the murder.
Simmons then proceeded to the Atlantis Plastics factory, where he had been employed two years before. When he arrived at the factory, Simmons approached a supervisor named Ritchie Buck and shot him multiple times. Buck survived. Police apprehended Simmons outside the Atlantis Plastics factory, and Simmons asked repeatedly whether he had “got” both men.
After reviewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the jury’s verdict, we conclude that there was sufficient evidence for a rational trier of fact to find Simmons guilty of the crimes for which he was convicted.2
2. Simmons claims that his attorney rendered ineffective assistance of counsel by failing to request a change of venue and by presenting an insanity defense rather than properly investigating and presenting Simmons’ claims that his conduct resulted from the *438constant harassment he endured in Cartersville. Because Simmons’ ineffective assistance of counsel claim was not raised at the first practicable opportunity, however, the claim is waived.8
Although Simmons’ trial counsel filed his initial motion for a new trial, he was then appointed a new attorney who filed an amended motion for new trial on his behalf.3 4 That amended motion was the first practicable opportunity to raise his ineffective assistance of counsel claim, but the claim was not raised in the amended motion or addressed at the hearing on the amended motion for new trial. “[Wjhere new counsel appointed or retained after the trial amends the motion for new trial without raising the issue of ineffective assistance, the claim [is] waived.”5
3. Simmons claims that the trial court erred by not allowing a certain Bartow County sheriffs deputy to testify. Because the deputy was never called as a witness, nor was the admissibility of his purported testimony ever raised, the issue is not preserved for appeal.6
4. Next, Simmons argues that the trial court erred by failing to issue a curative instruction after the district attorney alluded to facts not in evidence during his examination of a witness and during closing argument. Because Simmons made no contemporaneous objection to the allegedly improper statements by the district attorney, and the closing argument was not transcribed for appellate review, the issue is waived.7
5. Simmons claims that the trial court erred by denying Simmons the opportunity to open and conclude closing argument. Because Simmons introduced evidence other than his own testimony, specifically the testimony of Dr. Sam Perri, he did not have the right to open and conclude closing argument.8
*439Decided November 20, 2006
Reconsideration denied December 15, 2006.
Victor L. Simmons, pro se.
T. Joseph Campbell, District Attorney, Erik J. Pirozzi, Assistant District Attorney, Thurbert E. Baker, Attorney General, Jason C. Fisher, Assistant Attorney General, for appellee.
Judgment affirmed.
All the Justices concur.